NAPLES REAL ESTATE VOICE

It's no secret that if your child is musically inclined, the sooner you can begin their musical education the more talented they are likely to be. Whatever your or your child's ultimate musical goals, you can and should come down to the Philharmonic Center for the Arts every weekend during May and the first weekend in June for a chance to catch one of the Magic Carpet Concerts.

Each and every week the Naples Philharmonic Orchestra will be performing a special 45 min. program to showcase one particular type of instrument. For example, this coming weekend on May 19 you can catch the Magic Carpet Strings concert that will be focused on the violinists, cellists and bassists in the Orchestra. Next weekend on May 26 you can enjoy the Magic Carpet Brass

Have you yet had the pleasure of shopping at Florida's first Trader Joe's grocery store in Naples? If not, you will definitely want to make the trip because you are in for a healthy-no-matter-what treat...You see, Trader Joe's specializes in healthy AND affordable food, two words which aren't often seen in the same sentence.

If you keep up with the news, and then you probably read about the Pink Slime that US public schools are now using in their cafeteria food – well you will find a single particle of pink slime in Trader Joe's. And the horror stories you've heard about plastic water bottles contaminating your water? You won't find any BPA in the plastics at Trader Joe's. In fact, the Trader Joe's brand of foods contain zero high fructose corn

The Vineyards is one of the premier golf country club communities in Naples and represents the pinnacle of exclusive high-end living in Florida's crown jewel. This master-planned community is comprised of 31 different individual neighborhoods, each of varying luxury but all holding up to The Vineyards' impeccable standard of simple convenience, vibrant beauty and effortless camaraderie, and all centered around the community's central 60,000+ square foot clubhouse.

The Vineyards is a classically themed country club complete with an excess of stone fountains, strong columns, rich mahogany and flowing architecture with a mild Spanish touch that creates a stunning contrast with the surrounding golf courses and lakes.

Different neighborhoods offer a

The 30-year fixed rate mortgage brushed the all-time historical low this past week dropping to 3.88%. The rate for the 15-year fixed rate dropped to 3.12% from the previous week of 3.13%. Still with the lowest rates in decades, it has done little to spurn home sales and most of the people looking to refinance have already done so.

Although not the case in Southwest Florida and especially Naples, people remain sceptical about a home purchase because they feel that home prices will continue to fall and that the timing is still not right. That coupled with the huge amount of damaged credit does not bode well for people changing their attitude about buying real estate.

Here in the Greater Naples Area, thing are totally different. Although we are headed

As April comes to a close and the month of May looms ominously ahead, the folk of downtown Naples, Florida are preparing for their fourth annual City Fest – a 10 day celebration of everything Naples. From May 4 to May 13 there will be all sorts of different attractions available every single day, some for the family, some for the adults only, but all of which should make for a great time had by all.

The only problem? There may actually be too many events to sift through! So, you can use this brief article as an overview of the must-see attractions during this high speed ten-day celebration.

Sip of Fifth – This fabulous wine and beer tasting is held at, you guessed it, 5th Avenue South. Enjoy sampling a premier selection of craft beers and fine

If you've been waiting for the perfect time and place to treat yourself to a luxurious waterfront home, now is the time to do it and Naples, Florida is the place. This is the real estate opportunity of a lifetime in Florida's crown jewel, and it will pass you by before you know it. Read on to discover the secret treasure waiting for you in Naples, and what you need to know to claim a piece of this prime property for yourself before it's too late.

What's the Current State of Naples' Real Estate Market?

I'll put it bluntly – It's a buyer's market, and there's no doubt about it. In Naples, this is largely due to the high number of foreclosures and short sales permeating the market. See, when there are a lot of foreclosures and the banks are forced to

As you travel down Gordon Drive in Port Royal, you marvel at some of the mega homes that dot the landscape. Yet some of these homes that we think monsterous pale in comparison to what is now up for sale, America's largest home.

Nestled in Windermere, Florida where huge mega homes abound is America's largest home. Aptly named Versailles after the French Palace, it is a 90,000 square foot, 13 bedroom, 22 bath, 10 kitchen, 22-car underground garage handi-man's special, since it remains unfinished and all work has stopped on the construction three years ago.

The home is owned by David Siegel, the billioniare founder and owner of Westgate Resorts. Construction was halted when the market went into a tailspin severly putting a damper on his timeshare

Residents of Naples regard the Waterside Shops as one of the premier shopping destinations in Collier County.  The Waterside takes full advantage of the temperate Florida climate: it’s an outdoor mall with plenty of lush greenery and cascading waterfalls.  The mall houses more than sixty stores and restaurants.  When the inveterate shopper needs a respite, there are an abundance of places to just sit, relax, and enjoy the tranquil environment around you.  Like most malls, the Waterside is open seven days a week.  But unlike most malls, valet parking and complimentary design consultations are available. 

The Waterside offers many stores that can be found in malls across America.  Popular stores like The Pottery Barn, Williams-Sonoma, LaCoste,

Every month is a busy month in Naples.  In fact, longtime Naples’ residents claim that there is no better place in the country for non-stop activities.  The multitude of activities that occurred in the month of March 2012, are very representative of the year around events that Naples residents can enjoy.  One of the most popular events was the recent Southwest Florida Golf Expo.  It was held at the Germain Center in nearby Estero.  The Expo featured golf clinics, swing analysis and lessons, fifty vendor booths, vodka sampling, Golf Mania’s Edwin Watts and much more.  Golf enthusiasts from all over Lee and Collier Counties attended this event.

For those interested in gardening, there was the annual Naples Flower Show and Garden Market.  The

Naples, Florida is renowned for its prestigious neighborhoods.  In fact, the area from Naples down to Marco Island is referred to as the “platinum coast.”  One of the finer communities in this region is the Audubon Country Club.  This community encompasses 755 lush acres.  The area should remain pristine because fifty-eight percent of the property is a dedicated preserve area.  And bird watchers should take note - the community and its preserve have the honor of being a certified Audubon sanctuary.  Another huge plus: the beaches are only five minutes away.

There are only 339 homes and thirty-six condos in the community.  The maximum number of homes is 410.  There are still many highly desirable, premium lots available.  All homes and